Keeping your home’s living spaces comfortable involves more than providing heating and cooling. It also requires maintaining a certain level of moisture in the air – humidity – that contributes to your comfort. Too much humidity, however, can cause significant problems, including damage to your home’s structure, your belongings and even your health. Here are some signs that can indicate a humidity problem in your home.
- Condensation on windows and pipes: Condensation is the formation of moisture on surfaces such as windows and pipes. It happens when humid air contacts a surface that is colder than the temperature of the air itself. Droplets of water from the moist air form on these surfaces.
- Mold or mildew: Excess humidity in your home creates a perfect environment for mold and mildew to grow. You may encounter these organisms in areas of your home where moisture is normally high, such as in bathrooms, kitchens, or laundry rooms. Mold or mildew growing there or in other areas can indicate a humidity problem. Mold spores can contribute to respiratory troubles such as allergies or asthma, while certain kinds of mild can actually be harmful to your health. Dehumidification equipment or ventilation systems can be effective at reducing humidity throughout your home and reducing the potential for mold and mildew.
- Standing water: Small puddles of standing water, wet carpets and rugs, and other evidence of the presence of water can mean a humidity problem. These water sources will increase the humidity in the air. They could be caused by a leaking pipe or plumbing fixture. Check for leaks and fix them immediately. Clean up the water and dry out any wet carpet or rugs.
- Moisture damage: Obvious signs of moisture damage can indicate your indoor humidity is too high. These signs can include wet or damp papers, clothing, carpets, rugs, or books. Wallpaper can begin to peel. Furniture, flooring, paneling, and other structures can become warped.
Ace Hardware Home Services is Dayton’s go-to source for professional residential and commercial HVAC services. Contact us today for more information on indoor humidity and how to control a humidity problem in your home.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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